Unit of competency details

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised  text is used, further information is detailed in the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Confirm performance measures in irrigation system's management plan .

1.1 Identify customer requirements for irrigated culture.

1.2 Identify environmental factors  that impact on the irrigation system.

1.3 Consult historic system information  and stakeholders  as appropriate

1.4 Confirm performance requirements for an irrigation system management plan .

2 Monitor and coordinate processes and resource targets .

2.1 Correctly select, fit and use equipment , including personal protective equipment.

2.2 Apply monitoring and testing programs  and identify, investigate and report any deviations from water quantity, quality, release or flow.

2.3 Evaluate the timeliness, volume and flow rates of water deliveries and identify, investigate and report deviations from agreed service levels.

2.4 Evaluate maintenance budgets, activity programs and output target measures and identify, investigate and report deviations from targets.

2.5 Identify and record links between operational problems and maintenance activities.

3 Report outcomes of coordination and monitoring .

3.1 Analyse, record and report coordination and monitoring data according to organisational procedures and statutory requirements .

3.2 Identify and report current and potential problems according to organisational procedures.

3.3 Make recommendations for improvements in system performance and/or customer service.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills :

• interpret and apply legislation and policies
• coordinate measuring and testing activities
• conduct investigations
• assess environmental impact
• uses safety equipment and personal protective equipment
• communicate with customers and other employees
• operate irrigation and/or domestic stock supply system
• check channel flow
• identify control system faults

Required knowledge :

• relevant legislation
• relevant enterprise policies
• range of appropriate measuring and testing procedures
• investigation procedures
• customer expectations and requirements
• operations and maintenance policies and procedures
• occupational health and safety and environmental legislation, Acts and procedures
• impact of the principles of hydraulics on the operation of flows
• coordination processes
• principles of scheduling
• system layout
• system operations
• policies and standard operating procedures
• communication systems
• lock out procedures for mechanical and electrical installations
• environmental aspects of irrigation and/or stock and domestic supply system asset infrastructure
• safety procedures
• environment, landscape and ground structure of work area
• risk factors and potential hazards of irrigation and/or domestic and stock supply systems
• equipment operation, capacity and limitations
• effects of weather and conditions on operation of site plant
• water flow calculations
• flow measurement procedures
• gravity systems
• control systems

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to coordinate and monitor the operation of irrigation systems including:

• identifying customer requirements for irrigated culture and environmental factors that impact on the irrigation system
• consulting historic system information and stakeholders as appropriate
• confirming performance requirements for an irrigation system management plan
• implementing monitoring and testing programs and investigating and reporting deviations from planned parameters
• evaluating performance of water deliveries and investigating and reporting deviations from agreed service levels
• evaluating performance targets such as maintenance budgets, activity programs and output target and investigating and reporting deviations
• analysing and reporting data
• identifying and reporting problems
• making recommendations for system performance or customer service improvements

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Access to the workplace and resources including:

• documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation
• relevant codes, standards, and government regulations

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice
• a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
• where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
• assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised  wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Environmental factors  may include:

• environmental flows
• chemicals
• nutrients
• salinity
• downstream requirements

Historic system information  may include:

• previous studies
• impact of weather
• relevant hydrometric information
• previous system deliveries
• previous flow rates
• operational procedures

Stakeholders  may include:

• customers
• government
• farmer and grower associations
• downstream land holders
• other water authorities
• employees
• customer representative committees
• land care or similar active groups
• local communities

Irrigation system management plan  may include:

• service levels
• capital investment
• maintenance levels

Equipment may  include:

• electronic monitoring and metering systems
• manual chart recording systems
• on- and off-road vehicles
• communication equipment
• personal protective equipment

Monitoring and testing programs  may include:

• timeliness of deliveries
• flow
• input and output quality
• testing procedures
• frequency
• sampling locations
• budgets
• physical achievement targets
• operational procedures
• number of complaints

Organisational and statutory requirements  may include:

• relevant federal legislation
• relevant state or territory legislation
• relevant local government by-laws or planning instruments
• board or authority by-laws